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Amidst charges that the standard of play has declined in recent years, the 24th Blade Pro-Am Cricket Festival opens today with a number of current and former English international players among those on show.

Two of the seasoned captains, Bill Athey, an England Test batsman of the 1980s, and Keith Medlycott, a left-arm spinner who toured the West Indies with the England side in 1990, feel, if anything, that the quality of cricket has improved in the last four years.

In addition to Athey and Medlycott, the overseas professionals include England players of recent times, Phil Tufnell, Ian Salisbury, Darren Maddy, Chris Silverwood, Chris Adams and Ed Giddins, along with county regulars Graham Welch, Paul Nixon, Mike Rosberry and Gavin Hamilton, who represented Scotland with distinction in the 1999 World Cup.

I wouldn't have thought that the standard has declined, Athey said about the festival which is being sponsored this year by Life of Barbados.

There are always going to be one or two players who are just here for the ride, just for the enjoyment and experience, but I think the standard is reasonable.

To a degree, it is getting a little bit more competitive. There is a lot of competition between the English boys on the trip on and off the field.

Medlycott reiterated the views of Athey and added that the final match of the tournament, which involves a Best of England XI against a Best of Barbados XI had done a lot to enhance the festival.

I think the advantage of playing this England XI v Barbados XI over recent times has added a lot of credence to the festival, he said.

Barbados have seen young players come through. Three or four are now gracing the fields in first-class cricket. It's been a huge bonus for Barbados itself.

The quality of international players who have come over in the last four years has been exceptional. When you're looking at 14 players of international experience added to the quality of experienced Barbadian cricketers and young cricketers coming though, it's gone from strength to strength.

The year's tournament, which features six teams, will be played on a round-robin basis and the champions will be the team with the most points after five rounds of 35-overs-a- side matches starting at 12:30 p.m. daily. Pitches will also be covered.

Today's matches bring together Medlycott's Life of Barbados XI against Salisbury's The Mews XI at Dayrells Road; Athey's Coach House XI against Adams' Boatyard XI at Crab Hill, St Lucy; and the CHIC Combined Schools XI against the Carib BCL at Queen's Park.

Warren Rumsey, one of the main co-ordinators of the tournament, said the festival was special for its own reasons.

There are very few occasions where a village green cricketer from either Barbados or England has the opportunity to play with his heroes on the same cricket field, he said.

If you were to pick anywhere in the world to do it, I don't think you could find a paradise much better than this from a holidaying and cricketing point a view.

Wesley Carter, Life of Barbados' assistant vice-president of marking, said the insurance company was pleased to be associated with the festival.

LOB is committed to these causes and this festival offers an excellent opportunity to demonstrate that, Carter said.

It also allows us to show some form of leadership.

We are currently facing difficult economic conditions and it is in times like these leadership must be shown and where corporate citizens must come forward and show that life must go on.

© The Barbados Nation